Use of microarrays to identify targets in cardiovascular disease

The year 2000 will long be remembered in biology for the completion of the basic sequence of the human genome. This remarkable achievement comes at a time when the technology for exploiting differential expression of genes in cells and tissues is rapidly progressing. Although many methods have been available over the past two decades for exploring differential expression of genes, DNA microarray technology has already proven revolutionary. The capability of monitoring expression of thousands of genes simultaneously has already yielded unique insight into many physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. For cardiovascular disease, microarray technology promises to provide new understanding of mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure and vascular disease. As the availability of this technology expands and the costs decrease, microarray technology will be an essential method for identifying novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets in cardiovascular disease. In addition to identifying new targets, microarrays have the potential to decrease the long research and development time required to bring a concept to the bedside. Although microarray technology will help fuel the imminent explosion of novel approaches to cardiovascular disease, the technology also requires cautious interpretation and well-considered validation strategies.